Flights & getting there

Air

Airports & Airlines

South African Airways is South Africa’s national airline, with an excellent route network and safety record. In addition to its long-haul flights, it operates regional and domestic routes together with its partners Airlink and SA Express.

Departure Tax

Departure tax is included in the price of a ticket.

Tickets

International fares to South Africa are usually highest during December and January, and between July and September. They are lowest in April and May (except during the Easter holiday period) and November. The rest of the year falls into the shoulder-season category.

It’s normally cheaper to fly via Jo’burg than directly to Cape Town. If an airline serves both, an ‘open jaw’ ticket may be available, allowing you to fly into one city and out of another; more commonly, you may be able to fly to Jo'burg and return from Cape Town via Jo'burg (or vice versa).

London is a hub for airlines offering discounted fares.

Intercontinental (Round-The-World) Tickets

Some standard around-the-world (RTW) itineraries include South Africa.

It’s possible to include both Jo’burg and Cape Town, allowing you to fly into one city and out of the other, and make your own way between the two.

The easiest and cheapest option may be to fly in and out of Jo’burg on a RTW ticket and make separate arrangements from there for Southern African travel.

From Africa

There are good connections between Jo’burg and most major African cities.

South African Airways, Airlink, SA Express, other countries’ national carriers and British Airways (www.britishairways.com) are good starting points.

Most transcontinental flights have set pricing, with little of the competition-driven discounting that you’ll find in other parts of the world. To reach a far-flung part of Africa from Jo'burg, flying via Europe or the Middle East is often cheaper than travelling direct.

Southern Africa

Jo’burg is well connected, including to secondary Southern African airports. For example, Air Botswana (www.airbotswana.co.bw) offers direct flights from Jo'burg to Francistown and Maun as well as the Botswanan capital, Gaborone.

In addition to national carriers, budget South African airlines serve other destinations in the region:

Kulula Offers online discounts on British Airways flights from Jo’burg to Harare (Zimbabwe), Livingstone (Zambia), Windhoek (Namibia) and Mauritius, and on Kenya Airways flights from Jo'burg to Nairobi (Kenya).

Emirates (www.emirates.com) Most major cities in Australia and New Zealand via Dubai to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban.

Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) Sydney to Jo'burg.

From Canada & the USA

The cheapest route is often via London, continental Europe or even the Middle East. A discounted transatlantic ticket and separate onward ticket to Jo’burg or Cape Town may work out the same or cheaper than a through-fare.

Some airlines fly via West African airports such as Accra (Ghana) and Dakar (Senegal). South African Airways flies to Jo’burg from New York and Washington, DC, with a fuel stop in Dakar.

From the US west coast, you can occasionally get good deals via Asia.

From Continental Europe

You can fly to South Africa from most European capitals. Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich are hubs; all are within about nine hours of Jo’burg.

Several airlines fly direct to both Jo’burg and Cape Town, including KLM (www.klm.com) from Amsterdam. South African Airways flies direct from Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich to Jo’burg.

It can work out cheaper to fly via the Middle East. Turkish Airlines (www.turkishairlines.com) often offers competitive fares to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban via Istanbul.

From South America

Travelling via London or continental Europe opens up more choice. South African Airways flies from São Paulo to Jo’burg.

From the Middle East

Emirates Dubai to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban.

South African Airways Cairo to Jo’burg; Dubai to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban.

Turkish Airlines Istanbul to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban.

Egypt Air (www.egyptair.com) Cairo to Jo'burg, with connections to Cape Town and Durban.

Qatar Airways (www.qatarairways.com) Doha to Jo’burg and Cape Town.

From the UK & Ireland

British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Jo’burg and Cape Town, with onward connections; Virgin Atlantic (www.virginatlantic.com) and South African Airways also serve Jo'burg. You can find budget flights from Gatwick.

As well as travel agents, preferably those registered with the Association of British Travel Agents (www.abta.com), check ads in the travel sections of weekend newspapers; and in such publications as the South African (www.thesouthafrican.com), TNT (www.tntmagazine.com), Time Out (www.timeout.com) and the Evening Standard (www.standard.co.uk).

Land

Bicycle

There are no restrictions on bringing your own bicycle into South Africa. Some sources of information:

Cycling South Africa (www.cyclingsa.com)

International Bicycle Fund (www.ibike.org)

Border Crossings

Botswana

There are 15 official South Africa–Botswana border posts, open between at least 8am and 3pm.

Some of the more remote crossings are impassable to 2WD vehicles and may be closed during periods of high water. Otherwise the crossings are hassle-free.

Citizens of most Western nations do not require a visa to enter Botswana. People who do require a visa should apply in advance through a Botswanan mission (or a British mission in countries without Botswanan representation).

Mozambique

Citizens of Western countries should apply in advance for tourist visas at a Mozambican mission. Border visas may be issued to people coming from countries where there is no Mozambican consular representation, but travellers in this situation should check with the Mozambican High Commission in Pretoria (or Mbabane, Swaziland).

Giriyondo Between Kruger National Park’s Phalaborwa Gate and Massingir (Mozambique).

Kosi Bay/Ponta d’Ouro (8am to 4pm) On the coast, well north of Durban.

Namibia

Citizens of most Western nations do not require a visa to enter Namibia for up to three months. People who do require a visa should apply in advance through a Namibian mission. Border posts include the following:

Alexander Bay/Oranjemund (6am to 10pm) On the Atlantic coast; access is reliant on the ferry.

Nakop/Ariamsvlei (24 hours) West of Upington.

Rietfontein/Aroab (8am to 4.30pm) Just south of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer (24 hours) North of Springbok, on the N7 to/from Cape Town.

Swaziland

There are 11 South Africa–Swaziland border posts, all of which are hassle-free, including the following. Note that small posts close at 4pm.

Oshoek/Ngwenya (7am to 10pm) The busiest crossing, about 360km southeast of Pretoria.

Zimbabwe

Citizens of most Western nations need a visa to enter Zimbabwe, and these should be purchased at the border.

Beitbridge (24 hours), on the Limpopo River, is the only border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The closest South African town to the border is Musina (15km south), where you can change money.

There’s lots of smuggling, so searches are thorough and queues often long. Ignore touts on the Zimbabwe side trying to ‘help’ you through Zimbabwe immigration and customs; there’s no charge for the government forms needed for immigration.

Bus

Numerous bus lines cross between South Africa and its neighbours. It’s the most efficient way to travel overland, unless you have your own vehicle.

Sometimes-lengthy queues are usually the only major hassle. At the border you’ll have to disembark to take care of visa formalities, then reboard and carry on.

Visa prices are not included in ticket prices.

Botswana

Shared Taxi

Less safe and comfortable than buses, shared taxis run from Jo’burg to Gaborone (seven hours) and Lobatse (Botswana) with a change in Mahikeng (North West Province). Another route from Jo’burg is via Grobler’s Bridge/Martin’s Drift to Palapye (Botswana; eight hours).

Bringing Your Own Vehicle

You’ll also need a carnet de passage en douane, the international customs document, which allows the temporary admission of motor vehicles.

Obtain a carnet through your local automobile association (from about US$300).

Drivers of vehicles from outside Africa must typically pay a 50% refundable security deposit of 25% of the vehicle’s value.

Cars registered in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia, and driven by citizens or permanent residents of these countries, don’t need a carnet to visit the other countries in this group.

Botswana

The following crossings are passable in 2WD cars:

Grobler’s Bridge/Martin’s Drift

Kopfontein Gate/Tlokweng Gate

Ramatlabama

Skilpadshek/Pioneer Gate

Lesotho

Road tax of M30 (or R30) is payable on entering Lesotho. The easiest entry points for cars and motorcycles are on the northern and western sides of the country.

Most of the entry points to the south and east are unsealed, though many are passable in a 2WD, depending on weather conditions. A sealed road runs around the perimeter of the country from Qacha's Nek clockwise to Mokhotlong.

It’s more economical to rent a car in South Africa than in Lesotho. You must have two red hazard triangles in your car in case of a breakdown.

Mozambique

You must have two red hazard triangles in your car in case of a breakdown.

Lebombo/Ressano Garcia (Komatipoort) The N4 highway connects Pretoria with this post, joined by the N12 from Jo’burg. The EN4 highway runs southeast from here to Maputo. There are tolls on both sides of the border.

Namaacha/Lomahasha The roads leading to this border post with Swaziland are sealed, and negotiable with 2WD.

Giriyondo It's 95km from Kruger’s Phalaborwa gate to Giriyondo, and 75km further to Massingir, the first major town on the Mozambique side. A 4WD and proof of overnight accommodation in the relevant park are required.

Pafuri Just 29km from Kruger's Pafuri gate, but on the Mozambique side, there is an unbridged crossing of the Limpopo River near Mapai (makeshift ferry during rains) and a rough bush track thereafter via Mabote and Mapinhane to Vilankulo (4WD required). Allow two full days for the journey. Proof of accommodation in Kruger or Limpopo park is required.

Namibia

2WD Highways lead to the Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer and Nakop/Ariamsvlei crossings.

4WD A 4WD opens up more options for crossing the border, including through the Kgalagadi and |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld transfrontier parks.

Swaziland

Swaziland’s borders can be crossed in a 2WD.

Road tax of E50 payable on entering the country.

It’s more economical to rent a car in South Africa than in Swaziland.

Zimbabwe

Entering or leaving South Africa, vehicles pay a toll at the border to use the Limpopo Bridge.

Shared Taxi

You can travel to/from South Africa’s neighbours by local shared taxi.

A few routes go direct.

It’s normally necessary to walk across the border and pick up a new taxi on the other side.

Long-distance services generally leave early in the morning.

Train

The Man in Seat Sixty-One (www.seat61.com) has ideas for train travel throughout Southern Africa.

Mozambique

Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (www.cfm.co.mz) has a daily train between Maputo and the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia (Komatipoort) border post (US$1, 3¾ hours), where you can cross the border on foot and continue by bus, shared taxi, shuttle or train.

Namibia

TransNamib StarLine (www.transnamib.com.na) connects Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Windhoek with Keetmanshoop and Karasburg in southern Namibia. From the latter, you can catch an Intercape bus across the border to Upington (Northern Cape).

Sea

South Africa is an important stop on world shipping routes. Cape Town is a major port of call for cruise ships, and many also stop at Durban. Both are good places to look for crew berths on private yachts sailing up the East African coast.

It’s possible to find cruise and freighter lines linking South Africa with Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Many freighters have comfortable passenger cabins.

Even on freighter lines, the thrill of approaching the tip of the continent by sea certainly doesn’t come cheap. Fares from South Africa tend to be lower than those to it.

Helpful contacts:

Cruise People (www.cruisepeople.co.uk) Based in London.

Cruiser Log (www.cruiserlog.com) Crew positions and forum.

Cunard (www.cunard.co.uk) Luxury cruises to Cape Town. Has a list of cruise travel agents around the world.

Tours

Dozens of tour and safari companies organise package tours to South Africa and its neighbouring countries. If you prefer a more independent approach, you can book flights and accommodation for the first few nights, then join tours locally.

Itineraries typically include Kruger National Park and Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula.

For particular interests such as birdwatching and botany, check the advertisements in specialist magazines.

Australia

Adventure World (www.adventureworld.com.au) A range of tours and safaris in South Africa and the region.

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